Composition panel cabinet assembly particularly adapted for use in molded radio cabinets



1937. K. E. B. STENBERG COMPOSITION PANEL CABINET ASSEMBLY PARTICULARLYADAP'IED FOR USE IN MOLDED RADIO CABINETS 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledMarch 11,

Nov. 23, 1937. E, B STENBERG 2,100,226

' COMPOSITION PANEL CABINET ASSEMBLY PARTICULARLY ADAPTED FOR USE} INMOLDED RADIO CABINETS Filed- March 11,

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lNVENTO R W 66*! .Bn'ye'i' Sreizbe'ry ATTORNEY PatentedNov. 23, 1937 COMPOSITION PANEL CABINET ASSEIVIBLY PARTICULARLY ADAPTEDFOR USE IN MOLDED RADIO CABINETS Knut Eskid Birger Stenberg, Attleboro,Mass, assignor to Associated Attleboro Manufacturers,

Inc.', Attleboro, Mass,

chusetts Application March 11,

2 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in cabinet assemblies and isparticularly adapted for use in the manufacture of radio cabinetsconstructed of molded composition plastic material,

- such as synthetic resin, of the phenol formaldehyde condensationproduct type, urea formaldehyde condensation product, or other type, or

. other types of cellulose products, etc.

While it has been possible to mold small radio cabinets in one piece,the dies therefor have been extremely expensive and my invention relatesto a cabinet assembly which will permit the use of much smaller diesthan formerly thought possible and consequent reduction of expense inthe molding apparatus.

A further disadvantage of integrally molded cabinets has been that theyhave had a sameness of design and a further feature of my invention isto provide an assembly comprising molded 2o panels having edges whichmay be slid into interfitting engagement to make up the cabinet assemblyand in which if desired respective panels of different color or designtheme may be selectively substituted, thus permitting by varia- 25 tionsin color or design of a small part of the cabinet many variations in thecomposite cabinet assembly color or design.-

A further feature of my invention is to provide a cabinet assembly ofthe type hitherto described which may be retained in assembled positionby the radio chassis or other base normally employed therewith to holdthe desired operating parts in the cabinet.

A further object of my invention is to provide a cabinet assembly inwhich the edges of the various panels which slide into interfittingengagement are provided with suitable interfitting tongue and groovemeans to positively prevent leakage of gaseous material, such asimpurities from the outside air to within or leakage of heat to without.

These and such other objects of my invention as may hereinafter appearwill be best understood from a description of the accompanying 45drawings, which illustrate my invention-applied to a standard type ofrelatively small sized radio cabinet assembly.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a radio cabinet assemblyconstructed in accord- 5o ance with my invention containing the usualradio chassis base and the assembled radio parts therein.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the cabinet assembly shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a reverse plan view of the cabinet asa corporation of Massa-1937, Serial No. 130,364

sembly with the radio chassis base and operating parts removed.

Fig. 4 is a disassembled front elevation of the improved cabinetassembly shown in Figs. 1-3 showing from top to bottom the rear panelremoved, the combination U-shaped top and end panels integrally'joinedtogether and the front panel removed.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken just above the chassis basealong the line 55 of Fig. 1, showing the cabinet assembly in assembledposition.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 66 of Fig. 5.

In the drawings, wherein like characters of reference indicate likeparts throughout, i0 generally indicates a cabinet assembly constructedin accordance with my invention, which comprises in its broadest sense amolded composition top panel l2, molded composition end panels l4 and Ma molded composition rear panel l6 and a molded composition front panell8, (said panels 16 and I8 being referred to generally as side panels),certain of said panels preferably having their respectively adjacentedges integrally molded together, such as the top edges of the endpanels M and N and end edges of the top panel l2 to form the integrallymolded 'U-shaped composite top and side panel 20 and other of saidrespectively adjacent edges, in the embodiment shown, the end and topedges of the front and rear panels I6 and I8 and the front and rearedges of the top panel l2 and end panels M and M having moldedinterfitting tongue and groove means for slidably securing said panelstogether, whereby at least one of said panels may be replaced in theassembly by another of a different color or design theme. To retain theslidable panels together, at least some of said panels are provided withthe lugs projecting inwardly at a spaced distance from the lower endsthereof, in the preferred embodiment said panels having lugs includingthe end panels and N and the front and rear panels l5 and I8. To securethe panels in assembled relationship, a suitable base 24 is providedadapted to be confined within the lower ends of said side and endpanels, (said side panels comprising said front and rear panels l6 andI8) to abut said lugs from underneath to secure said removable panels inassembled relationship.

In the particular embodiment shown, my improved cabinet assembly ispreferably constructed in the following manner. While all of the panelsheretofore described may be provided with interfitting tongue and groovemeans for securing them together, I have shown in the drawings aconstruction wherein the top and end panels comprise an integrallymolded composition U-shaped composite panel 20 comprising the top panelI2 having the top ends of the end panels [4 and I4 integrally molded tothe end edges thereof in a composite die. While the interfitting moldedtongue and groove means may be reversed on the edges of the panelsdescribed, in the preferred embodiment shown, I provide said compositepanel member 20 with the aligned molded grooves 26 spaced substantiallyadjacent the front and rear edges thereof, thus extending at each frontand rear edge of the end panels I4 and [4 and the front and rear edgesof the top panel l2 and to form intcrfitting means each end and top edgeof the rear and front panels [6 and I8 respectively, (the side panels ashitherto described) are provided with molded tongues 28 projectingtherefrom adapted to project within said grooves, in the embodimentshown, said tongues being inset from the outer surfaces 30 of said frontand rear panels. The grooves 26 may be constructed as shown by providingprojecting ribs from the panel surfaces to form the grooves 28 inbetween them or they maybe molded in the panel walls if the walls bemade thick enough. The end panels l4 and 14 are preferably taperedupwardly as -are the end edges of the sidepanels, namely, the front andrear panels l6 and I8, not only toadd to the appearance, but also topermit easier and quicker removal and assembly of the slidable front andrear and other panels. In the embodiment shown all of said panels areprovided with lugs,

or other means substantially equidistantly spaced from the lower endsthereof, at least some of said lugs having screw holes for detachablesecurement of the chassis base 24 thereto to retain said panels in theassembled relationship. Thus, in the embodiment shown, for this purposethe rear panel I6 is provided with the spaced lateral lugs 32, the frontpanel is provided with the integral lugs 34 also equidistantly spacedfrom the lower end thereof, and in the embodiment shown, locatedadjacent the inner surface of each end edge thereof and the endpanels Mand I4 are also provided with the lugs 36 also equidistantly spaced fromthe lower ends thereof. In this instance, however, said lugs 36 areextended upwardly in the form of integrally molded ribs 36 transverselyspaced from each other-and having screw holes 38 in their lowerndsthereof for receiving screws 40 insertable through suitable screw holes42 in the chassis base 24 within said screw holes 38 in said lugs sothat said chassis base 24 may abut the respective lugs 32, 34 and 36 onthe respective side-panels including the front panel l8 and'the rearpanel signia, such as the wave length numbers 62 inlarged hole 44 is notonly adapted to function as a loud speaker hole, but as a dial hole andto hold the loud speaker cloth in position adjacent said hole, it ispreferably provided with the rearwardly projecting speaker clothreceiving lugs 60 .projecting integrally inwardly therefrom adjacent theedge of the speaker hole 44. 'In addition, for radio purposes, other ofsaid panels are provided with suitable air cooling holes .therein andthus in the embodiment shown the upper panel i2 is provided with thevertically spaced air cooling slots 50 and the rear channel I6 isprovided with the vertically spaced air cooling slots 52 which maybemade of such a size as to permit the fingers to be inserted through saidholes for lifting said cabinet.

I have shown in Fig. 1 the exterior of a cabinet assembly constructed inaccordance with my invention having a radio assembled therein and thusdisplaying through the hole .44 the speaker cloth 54 and showing thetuning dial 56 rotatably mounted centrally of said hole 44 and showingthe tuning knobs 58 mounted on extensions 7 if it be desired to changethe color, or design theme, itis merely necessary to replace apanel. Ifdesired a large number of the individual panel members of differentcolors may be made-up from stock to be assembled in the desired color ordesign assembly on individual order.

While I have shown a. three-piece assembly, it is obvious that ifdesired the top panel may be made separately from the ehd panels toprovide a five-piece structure, the interfitting portions or panelsbeing provided if desired with the interfitting tongue and groove meanscharacteristic of my invention, or if desired similarly may be afour-piece structure constructed in accordance with my invention.

It is apparent therefore, that I- have provided a novel type of cabinetassembly constructed of molded composition material and particularlyadapted for use in .radio cabinets with the advantages explainedabove.

It is understoo'd that my invention is not limited to the specificembodiments shown and that various deviations may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A radio cabinet assembly, comprising molded composition integralU-shaped top and end panels having aligned molded grooves at the frontand rear edges of said top and end panels and front and rear panelshaving tongues at the top and end edges thereof, whereby said front andrear panels may be assembled by sliding said tongues upwardly in saidgrooves, the removable front and rear panels having lugs substantiallyvertically equidistantly spaced from the lower ends thereof and the endpanels having lugs substantially equally equidistantly spaced from thelower ends thereof having screw holes for detachable securement of achassis base thereto insertable from underneath, whereby on securementof said chassis base thereto, said chassis base may abut the lugs on theremovable front and rear panels to retain said front and rear panelswith said U-shaped panel in assembled relationship, said front panelhaving an enlarged dial and speaker hole therein and speaker clothreceiving lugs integrally projecting inwardly adjacent the edge of saidspeaker hole.

2, A radio cabinet assembly, comprising molded "composition integralU-shaped top and end panels having aligned molded grooves at the frontand rear edges of said top and end panels, and front and rear panelshaving tongues at the top and end edges thereof, whereby said front andrear panels may be assembled by sliding said tongues upwardly in saidgrooves, the removable front and rear panels having lugs substantiallyvertically equidistantly spaced from the lower ends thereof and the endpanels having lugs subment of a chassis base thereto, said chassis basemay abut the lugs on the removable front and rear panels to retain saidfront and rear panels with said U-shaped panel in assembledrelationship.7 I

KNUT ESKID BIRGER S'I'ENBERG.

